Life saving surgery - Aubrey's Faith over Fear
Donation protected
I know everyone has, at one point or another, read a GOFUNDME page. I know I have read a few in my time.
Our story started in 2017, when my beautiful granddaughter, Aubrey Denise Mae, turned 6 months old. One day her eating had decreased and she started spitting up. She had been fed oatmeal baby cereal, and soon after had broke out in a sunburn like rash, that spread all over her torso. We took her up to the hospital, and they gave her a double dose of Benadryl. This had resolved the rash, but within the next day her eyes turned yellow, like it does with Jaundice patients. We then rushed her up to McMaster Children's Hospital, where they ran blood work and discovered that her platelets were down to 13, while her Bilirubin was extremely high. They then examined her abdomen, and it was then that we were told her liver, and spleen were enlarged causing hardly any room in her stomach for food. Our granddaughter started loosing weight not being able to attain the nutrition her body required. We spent a big part of two days waiting to find out what was happening. We had four different health teams from different departments working on Aubrey's situation to try and figure out what was wrong. She underwent bloodwork everyday, up to two, to three times a day. She also dealt with CT scans, MRI's, X rays, Bone morrow, Ultra Sound, liver biopsy, skin graft along with ear and eye testing. You name it, this little girl went through it. During this time we spent a big part of April and May 2017, in the hospital with no answers, just possibilities being crossed out one by one. My daughter (Felicia) Aubrey's mom was holding it together the best she could.
We were finally released for a weekend home pass and Aubrey could not be happier. During the next year and half, we spent time travelling back and forth to Toronto Sick Kids Hospital for the same testing procedures in hopes of finding a diagnosis, while also going back to Macmaster for blood work and follow up. The doctors declared the possibilities of a liver transplant in the future. As time went on things started slowly improving. The jaundice went away, her bilirubin slowly declined as her numbers started to increase to normal levels. The doctors had no idea how or why this was happening, nor did they know what was causing the issues in the first place. Her specialist referred to her as having a cirrhosis liver but could not give reasons of why, other then some people are just born with a bad liver. No answers were given, they simply stated that this was an unusual case that they have never come across before and that Aubrey would have to be monitored.
Our doctor visits started to slowly get further apart with just follow up appointments until the middle of January 2020.
Our daughter had a very bad feeling, and Aubrey's appetite slowly decreased. Her mother could feel her liver was larger, and it had, what felt to be a firm lump on it.
In December of 2019, she brought up how Aubrey's liver felt harder and spleen seemed to be larger with the liver specialist at McMaster on their scheduled visit. He dismissed her claims, he said her liver seems fine and her numbers are great, as did Aubrey's own family doctor did in Jan 2020. The strange thing, her mom new something was wrong even though all her numbers showed there wasn't!
Felicia(Aubrey's mom) kept pushing until someone would listen to her. At that point, Aubrey barely ate, and kept having the sensation of having too relieve herself, because of how large her liver and spleen had become.
We took her back to McMaster for an emergency ultrasound where they found a blood clot in the main artery to her liver. They then sent us home for another two weeks, before they could schedule an MRI for other areas. Over the weekend Aubrey's condition started to worsen, so we contacted the on call, and demanded that she get in right away. We went up the next morning. It was then that they found a mass on her liver, and the possibility of it being cancerous. Multiple tests were performed, Aubrey was on another long journey. Two weeks later our results were back, and it turned out to be cancerous. The worse news any parent, or grand parent, could receive. We kept our faith and held ourselves together to show Aubrey the strength she needed to see. Aubrey is the strongest person that we know, with always a smile on her face.
Once her diagnosis was confirmed we were sat down and given the game plan of her course of action for over the next few months, and what tests and treatments were required for Aubrey. We were advised that she may not eat, she would more then likely loose her hair along with losing a lot of weight and might require a feeding tube due to the chemo. Around May 2020 they were going to send Aubrey's updated MRI results along with herself to Toronto sick kids to discuss possibilities of being a candidate for liver transplant.
Well we would like to be the first to let you know that Aubrey is kicking butt!! She has surprise the doctors with how well she has been able to eat. She has gained 5.5lbs back of what she originally lost and has been able to maintain her weight. She has kept an absolutely amazing personality through the entire journey, even when having to receive injections in her leg every single day. This little 3 year old girl is STRONG!! She loves god, and she knows he is with her. They are beating this thing together.
Then the pandemic occurred with covid-19, and not only does she have to fight cancer, but she needs to be extra cautious, since we are going back and forth to hospitals and treatments. It is both difficult and terrifying.
God does answer prayers. We received the call from Sick kids June 2, 2020, requesting us to head straight to Toronto as they had a possible liver match for Aubrey. Upon arrival she had to undertake another round of tests, confirming the liver was a match. She is good to go! Our grand daughter is receiving her new liver. Over the next few months, she will be monitored closely by her transplant team. This next part of her journey will be all about healing and getting her back on her feet, including physiotherapy and exercise.
Please join together with prayers of strength for Aubrey and her mom, who has been her rock through this all. We ask anyone who can afford to donate to assist our family with expenses, as we have exhausted our resources over the past few years, and this will assist with lodging for appointments and anything Aubrey may require on her road to recovery.
God Bless everyone and thank you for your support!
Our family would like to send out prayers to the family that donated Aubrey's liver. May strength and love be sent to you, we could not imagine what you are going through please always know your child still lives on in Aubrey! God Bless you forever, we will always be grateful...
Please re share this link to whom ever may want to donate to help
Our story started in 2017, when my beautiful granddaughter, Aubrey Denise Mae, turned 6 months old. One day her eating had decreased and she started spitting up. She had been fed oatmeal baby cereal, and soon after had broke out in a sunburn like rash, that spread all over her torso. We took her up to the hospital, and they gave her a double dose of Benadryl. This had resolved the rash, but within the next day her eyes turned yellow, like it does with Jaundice patients. We then rushed her up to McMaster Children's Hospital, where they ran blood work and discovered that her platelets were down to 13, while her Bilirubin was extremely high. They then examined her abdomen, and it was then that we were told her liver, and spleen were enlarged causing hardly any room in her stomach for food. Our granddaughter started loosing weight not being able to attain the nutrition her body required. We spent a big part of two days waiting to find out what was happening. We had four different health teams from different departments working on Aubrey's situation to try and figure out what was wrong. She underwent bloodwork everyday, up to two, to three times a day. She also dealt with CT scans, MRI's, X rays, Bone morrow, Ultra Sound, liver biopsy, skin graft along with ear and eye testing. You name it, this little girl went through it. During this time we spent a big part of April and May 2017, in the hospital with no answers, just possibilities being crossed out one by one. My daughter (Felicia) Aubrey's mom was holding it together the best she could.
We were finally released for a weekend home pass and Aubrey could not be happier. During the next year and half, we spent time travelling back and forth to Toronto Sick Kids Hospital for the same testing procedures in hopes of finding a diagnosis, while also going back to Macmaster for blood work and follow up. The doctors declared the possibilities of a liver transplant in the future. As time went on things started slowly improving. The jaundice went away, her bilirubin slowly declined as her numbers started to increase to normal levels. The doctors had no idea how or why this was happening, nor did they know what was causing the issues in the first place. Her specialist referred to her as having a cirrhosis liver but could not give reasons of why, other then some people are just born with a bad liver. No answers were given, they simply stated that this was an unusual case that they have never come across before and that Aubrey would have to be monitored.
Our doctor visits started to slowly get further apart with just follow up appointments until the middle of January 2020.
Our daughter had a very bad feeling, and Aubrey's appetite slowly decreased. Her mother could feel her liver was larger, and it had, what felt to be a firm lump on it.In December of 2019, she brought up how Aubrey's liver felt harder and spleen seemed to be larger with the liver specialist at McMaster on their scheduled visit. He dismissed her claims, he said her liver seems fine and her numbers are great, as did Aubrey's own family doctor did in Jan 2020. The strange thing, her mom new something was wrong even though all her numbers showed there wasn't!
Felicia(Aubrey's mom) kept pushing until someone would listen to her. At that point, Aubrey barely ate, and kept having the sensation of having too relieve herself, because of how large her liver and spleen had become.
We took her back to McMaster for an emergency ultrasound where they found a blood clot in the main artery to her liver. They then sent us home for another two weeks, before they could schedule an MRI for other areas. Over the weekend Aubrey's condition started to worsen, so we contacted the on call, and demanded that she get in right away. We went up the next morning. It was then that they found a mass on her liver, and the possibility of it being cancerous. Multiple tests were performed, Aubrey was on another long journey. Two weeks later our results were back, and it turned out to be cancerous. The worse news any parent, or grand parent, could receive. We kept our faith and held ourselves together to show Aubrey the strength she needed to see. Aubrey is the strongest person that we know, with always a smile on her face.
Once her diagnosis was confirmed we were sat down and given the game plan of her course of action for over the next few months, and what tests and treatments were required for Aubrey. We were advised that she may not eat, she would more then likely loose her hair along with losing a lot of weight and might require a feeding tube due to the chemo. Around May 2020 they were going to send Aubrey's updated MRI results along with herself to Toronto sick kids to discuss possibilities of being a candidate for liver transplant.
Well we would like to be the first to let you know that Aubrey is kicking butt!! She has surprise the doctors with how well she has been able to eat. She has gained 5.5lbs back of what she originally lost and has been able to maintain her weight. She has kept an absolutely amazing personality through the entire journey, even when having to receive injections in her leg every single day. This little 3 year old girl is STRONG!! She loves god, and she knows he is with her. They are beating this thing together.
Then the pandemic occurred with covid-19, and not only does she have to fight cancer, but she needs to be extra cautious, since we are going back and forth to hospitals and treatments. It is both difficult and terrifying.
God does answer prayers. We received the call from Sick kids June 2, 2020, requesting us to head straight to Toronto as they had a possible liver match for Aubrey. Upon arrival she had to undertake another round of tests, confirming the liver was a match. She is good to go! Our grand daughter is receiving her new liver. Over the next few months, she will be monitored closely by her transplant team. This next part of her journey will be all about healing and getting her back on her feet, including physiotherapy and exercise.
Please join together with prayers of strength for Aubrey and her mom, who has been her rock through this all. We ask anyone who can afford to donate to assist our family with expenses, as we have exhausted our resources over the past few years, and this will assist with lodging for appointments and anything Aubrey may require on her road to recovery.
God Bless everyone and thank you for your support!
Our family would like to send out prayers to the family that donated Aubrey's liver. May strength and love be sent to you, we could not imagine what you are going through please always know your child still lives on in Aubrey! God Bless you forever, we will always be grateful...
Please re share this link to whom ever may want to donate to help
Co-organizers (2)
Denise Lianos
Organizer
Simcoe, ON
Doug Brazier
Co-organizer